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Barbados 1920-1921 Victory Stamp Issue

After the conclusion of World War I, it was suggested by the Legislature that a Victory Issue be made. On February 12th, 1919, the suggestion was made that the One Penny War Tax stamps, plenty of which were on hand, be additionally overprinted “VICTORY”, but after considerable deliberation, it was decided to mark the event in a more fitting manner, and to issue a complete set from ¼d to 3s. Two rough designs were prepared by Mr. W.L. C. Phillips, Colonial Treasurer of the Island, and these were forwarded to the Crown Agents by the Acting Colonial Secretary who wrote on June 11th, 1919, saying:

It is proposed that at the conclusion of the Declaration of Peace a Victory Stamp should be issued, and I am directed by the Governor to ask you to select a design and submit for approval with information as to the cost of the die and printing and within what time it would take to supply the Stamp.

2. A suggestion has been put forward that the Stamp should show a winged figure of Victory in profile with drapery outflowing and with a wreath in outstretched hand, with the words Barbados at the top, Postage at the bottom, and the values in the lower corners, 1d, 2d, &c., &c. The year 1919 and the word Victory to be printed below Barbados. But the Govern¬ment is not committed in anyway to this design.

The Crown Agents forwarded the letter to the printers on July 9th, and on August 1st, the latter submitted two designs lettered A and B which were pre¬pared for printing by the surface process. On August 11th, the Crown Agents enquired what the cost would be of having the designs produced by the copper plate process, and the information was furnished two days later. On November 17th, the Crown Agents wrote to the printers, stating:

We enclose a letter which we have received from the Government of Barbados ordering the necessary dies and plates for an issue of PEACE stamps to be produced by the copper plate process in two colours. Both designs enclosed herewith are to be used.

An indent for a supply of these stamps is also enclosed.

We shall be obliged if you will suggest colours and if necessary submita colour scheme for approval.

On December 1st, the printers submitted two designs lettered C and D which they had prepared for producing the stamps by the copper plate process in two operations, and at the same time returned the two designs lettered A and B. The two designs submitted were approved by the Crown Agents on December 8th. The vignette used for the “pence” values shows a reproduction in miniature of the “Winged Victory” from the Louvre in Paris, facing left, with a wreath of laurel in her outstretched left hand, as she flies through the clouds. The vignette used for the “shilling” values, shows a rectangular frame, a reproduction of “Victory” by Sir Thomas Brock that surmounts the Imperial Memorial to Queen Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace in London. The figure faces front, standing on a globe, as she holds a laurel wreath in her right hand and a palm branch in her left. The inscriptions in each design are similar. As promised, the printers sent a colour scheme (Appendix A) which they recommended, as well as an alternative (Appendix B) to the Crown Agents on March 17th, 1920, and this was approved and returned on March 21st.

Delivery of this issue was promised by the printers for April 1920, but delays occurred, and it was decided to withhold the issue until all of the de¬nominations had arrived in the Colony. By early August, all the denominations had arrived, with the exception of the 2½d, which was not received until August 31st. As soon as the shipment had been checked, supplies were taken over by the Post Office, and the Chief Clerk (Mr. L. K. Grant) and his assistant started to fill the 155 orders from collectors and dealers overseas, which had been accumulating for nearly a year. By September 9th, 1920, all orders had been filled and ready for despatch, so the issue was put on sale; the 1916 Arms issue was then withdrawn from sale.

The “pence” values were printed in sheets of 60 (12 x 5), and the “shilling” values in sheets of 30 (6 x 5), with a double marginal line in the colour of the frame, and cross marks in all four margins. The “pence” values were perforated line 14, while the “shilling” values are perforated comb 14.

The quantities ordered were thought to be sufficient to last for a year, but so great was the demand that in April 1921, it was necessary to order a reprint of the 1d stamps, and to re-issue in May, the 1916 remainders of the ¼d, ½d, 2½A, 4d, and 6d which had been withdrawn. The reprint of the Id stamp was made on paper watermarked Multiple Crown & Script CA, and this stamp was released on August 22nd, 1921. Expecting that the remainders of the 1916 issue and the Victory Issue would last until the end of March 1922, the intention was to delay the issue of the 1921 definitive set until April 1st, 1922. However, in November 1921, when several values ran out, the Post Office was forced on November 21st, 1921, to release the 1921 reduced size definitive issue.

In March 1924, the 3d, 4d and 3s. stamps were still available, but by November, only the 3s. remained, and of this denomination, a small quantity remained to be destroyed with other obsolete stamps in 1925.

Specifications

The “pence” values are watermarked upright, but the “shilling” values are watermarked sideways, reading upwards.

Details of the quantity printed and sent out to the Colony are shown in the tables below.

¼d. Black & Bistre-Brown (SG 201)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

28/06/20

150 000

76/19

09/07/20

346 620

76/19

09/10/20

13 080

Supplied to dealers

Total:

509 700

½d. Black & Bright Yellow-Green (SG 202)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

28/06/20

120 000

76/19

09/07/20

90 000

76/19

26/07//20

90 000

76/19

07/08/20

120 000

76/19

03/09/20

73 308

76/19

09/10/20

5 040

Supplied to dealers

Total:

498 348

1d. Black & Vermilion (SG 203)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

09/07/20

450 000

76/19

26/07//20

120 000

76/19

07/08/20

180 000

76/19

24/08/20

210 000

76/19

03/09/20

154 272

76/19

09/10/20

2 040

Supplied to dealers

44/21

28/06/21

515 160

Total:

1 631 472

The stamps supplied under Requisition No. 44/21 are on paper watermarked Multiple Crown & Script CA. Under this Requisition, an additional 401 stamps were printed for distribution to members of the Universal Postal Union.

2d. Black & Grey (SG 204)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

09/07/20

50 940

76/19

09/10/20

1 020

Supplied to dealers

Total:

51 960

2½d. Indigo & Ultramarine (SG 205)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

07/08/20

82 800

76/19

09/10/20

1 020

Supplied to dealers

Total:

83 820

3d. Black & Purple (SG 206)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

26/07/20

51 240

76/19

09/10/20

990

Supplied to dealers

Total:

52 230

4d. Black & Blue-Green (SG 207)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

26/07/20

54 900

76/19

09/10/20

990

Supplied to dealers

Total:

55 890

6d. Black & Brown-Orange (SG 208)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

26/07/20

45 300

76/19

09/10/20

990

Supplied to dealers

Total:

46 290

1s. Black & Bright-Green (SG 209)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

28/06/20

25 650

Total:

25 560

2s. Black & Brown (SG 210)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

28/06/20

19 980

Total:

19 980

3s. Black & Dull Orange (SG 211)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

76/19

28/06/20

19 740

Total:

19 740

The stamps invoiced on October 9th, 1920, were supplied to dealers.

Varieties

The following watermark varieties exist:

Watermark Inverted: ¼d, ½d, 1d, 3d, 6d and 2s.

Watermark Reversed: ¼d, ½d, 1s, 2s.and 3s.

Watermark Inverted & Reversed: ¼d, ½d, 1d, 1s and 2s.

Missing “C” of CA Watermark: ¼d, ½d, 2½d and 3s.

Missing “A” of CA Watermark: ½d.

Specimen stamps

Under Requisition No. 76/19, an additional 385 specimens of each value were printed (388 of the 2½d stamps), and these were overprinted SPECIMEN for distribution to members of the Universal Postal Union.